How to get a building permit in Midway, BC

Step by step in Midway

1. 1

   Confirm zoning before anything else

   Check the property's zone, setbacks, height and lot coverage, and whether it sits in a Development Permit Area. If it does, that approval has to come before the building permit — Midway won't issue until land use is settled.

2. 2

   Work out which permits you need

   Structural work needs a building permit from Village of Midway. Electrical and gas are separate and are issued by Technical Safety BC — explicitly stated on the application: 'Electrical and Gas Permits can be obtained from Technical Safety B. Plumbing is usually part of the building permit.

3. 3

   Prepare drawings and documents

   Village of Midway asks for: Completed building permit application form; Current Title Search (within last 30 days) with covenants/easements/rights-of-way (fee charged if not provided); Site plan drawn to scale showing proposed construction, distances to property lines, lot dimensions, other buildings and water courses; property lines located/staked (or a Certificate of Location survey); Two sets of scaled construction plans: foundation plan, basement plan, floor plan, 4-elevation views, cross-section, and plumbing schematic (drain/waste/vent + water distribution with pipe sizes and valves); Engineering where required (geotechnical/structural — footings, foundations, framing) per BC Building Code; engineered truss design, floor-joist and beam specs; 'Highway Access Permit' if a building is accessed directly off a highway (MoTI Grand Forks 250-442-4384); New Home Registration / home warranty via BC Housing for all new dwellings; 'Record of Sewerage System' / Interior Health approval where not on community water/sewer; WorkSafeBC asbestos/hazmat inspection recommended for buildings built before 1990.

4. 4

   Submit your application

   In person / email — building permits are processed by the RDKB (Regional District of Kootenay Boundary) Building Department in Grand Forks. The 'Application for Building Permit' PDF is downloaded from the RDKB/Village site and submitted to the RDKB building office (gfbuilding@rdkb.com, 250-442-2708). Planning items (DP/DVP/Board of Variance) go through the Village office. No online permitting portal.

5. 5

   Pay the permit fee

   Fees per Village of Midway Building & Plumbing Bylaw No. 290 (and amendments), administered by RDKB — based on value/cost of construction; additional charge if Title Search not supplied. Confirm the current schedule with Midway before you budget.

6. 6

   Plan review, then build to inspections

   The building department reviews against the BC Building Code and zoning; answer any comments quickly. Once issued, post the permit on site and book inspections at each stage — footings, framing, rough-in, insulation, final. Don't cover work before it's inspected.

Midway permit questions